Clamp operating and locking means



Oct. 18, 19.32. s. E. SWARTZ CLAlP OPERATING AND LOCKING MEANS Filed June 26. 1930 1 h l P lIH I II I I l I "U ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 18, 1932 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GUY E. SWARTZ, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN CLAMP OPERATING -AND Lo'cxmo MEANS Application filed June 26, 1930. Serial Nb. 464,096."

My invention relates to means for operatclam s in clamping positions; and all line ing and lo king lam s. or :e ge contacts of wedging members are Objects of my invention are: simple, easeliminated. ily operable and eflicient structure of clamp For illustration but not for limitation puroperating andlockingmeans;automaticlock poses, I have shown in the accompanying ing of operating mechanisms so that clamps drawing one certain device embodying my t. b moved 1101- v ind p nd nt of lnvention, but I am aware that my invention operation of operating mechanism, or unless can be embodied in or applied to other deoperating mechanism is operated so that Vices. I I

u clamps will automatically remain in posi- In the accompany ng drawi g ment o e on.

tions moved into and thereby leave both Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one of a hands of operators free for other things r ain type of j gs embodying y invention.

such as loading and unloading jigs; auto- Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken in a vermatic releasing of locking upon beginning tlcal plane indicated by the line 22 in Fi 1 of operations of operating mechanism so that showlng more clearly the geared relationlie- Clamps can b o d ith ut fri tion on tween the clamp and the operating shaft.

operating and locking members; automatic F 1g. 3 is a longitudinal section, on a larger locking of operating mechanisms and conscale, taken in a vertical plane indicated by sequently of clamps upon completion of the line 3-3 in Fig. land in Fig. 4 showing 0 clamping movements thereof so that clamps relations of parts more clearly. 70 are effectively held against unclamping due 1g. 4is atransverse section takeninaplane to pressure brought thereon; automatic limlndlcated by the line 4-4 in Fig. 3 showing iting of locking pressure at completion of relations of parts while the, operating mechclamping moven ents to prevent, excessive anism iS inactive and the two lower looking as wedging of locking members; direct driv- Wedges in looking position and preventing as ing contact from driving members to clamps rotation of the clamp operatingmechanism in to prevent driving through locking mechaeither direction as long as the operating mechnisms; inclosing locking mechanisms immenl m is not operated by means of the handle. diately around operating. shafts to protect F 1g. 5 is a transverse section similar to Fig.

30 such mechanisms against chips and the like 4: h wing relations of parts when the driving so d prevent i jury to operators and elimiparts on the driven and driving members are nating all line or edge contacts to prevent 111 Contact, h p gs w n hem 00mproduction of grooves during use of devices pressed, and the locking wedges forced into and thereby increase the length of usefulness i g n t to Prevent n nc arnping 5 of such devices. movement of the clamp. 8-5

Other objects will appear in this specifi- Similar reference characters refer to simcation, or will become apparent, or obvious, ilal parts throughout the views. or will suggest themselves upon an inspec- Th cl mp Ahas the Stems 10 depending tion of this specification and the accompanyfr m the Same and are guided and longitudiing drawing. nally movable in the bosses 11 on the base B 90 In clamp devices, such as jigs and the lik and have the gear teeth 12 in rack formation it is quite desirable for economic producalong the rear sides thereof and in permanent tion of work that operations of the parts mesh with the teeth 13 in pinion formation on thereof are made as automatic as possible. h -Sh f C Which is journaled in the base and In my invention, all operations of jig parts also in the cup like casing D having the bore are automatically performed upon a clamp- 14 concentric with the journal of the shaft. ing and unclamping movement of one operat- The driven member E is keyed onto the ing member; clamps remain in whatever poshaft C, is shown as journaled in the bore 14 sitions into which they may have been moved; and has the recesses 15, 16, and 17 therein and heavy locking is produced only for holding the driving parts 18, 19, and 20 thereon.

The rockable pins 21, 22 and 23 are journaled in the driven member in such a position that the flattened sides thereof extend above the bottom of the recesses.

The driving member F is journaled on the shaft C, closes the open end of the casing D, has the prongs 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, and 29 ex tending into the recesses in the driven mem' her as shown and, as shown, journaled-in the bore 14 and on the bottoms of the recessesin the driven member, and also has the polygo nal hub 30, six sided or hexagon in thismstance, adapted for the removable operating handle G. The polygonal connection not only affords a good operating wrench-like operating connection between the handle and the driving member but also for easy and quick change of position oil the handle for convenience of operators and for adaptation to different kinds of work.

The locking members H, I, and J have the bottoms 31 contactable on the flattened sides of the corresponding ones of the rockable pins, the arcuate tops 82 contactable on the wall of the bore 14, the ends 33 contactablcon one side of the prongs 24., 26, and 28. and the ends 34 contactable on one side of the prongs 25, 27, and 29.

The spring 35 is located between the prong 24: and the driving part 18, the spring 36 be-' tween the prong 26 and the driving part 19, and the spring 37 .between the prong 28 and the driving part 20.

As to operation of the device shown and described Starting now from an inactive position of the handle, the members of the device are related as illustrated in Fig. l wherein one of the locking members is shown as horizontal in a recess now at the extreme top while the other two are pointing downwardly. An equivalent relation of members is attained irrespective of what rotational position the looking members may be moved into since there are three of them and two of them will always be directed downwardly.

' In Fig. 4: is seen that the locking member H is not confined in any specific position except that it is voluntarily resting on the pin 21 while the locking member I has dropped downwardly, due to gravity, and into a wedging or looking position between the pin 22 and the wall of the bore while the locking member J has dropped downwardly, due to gravity, and into a wedging or looking position between the pin 28 and the wall of the bore so that the two members I and J are rotatively in opposite wedging positions and thereby prevent rotation of the driven memher in either direction upon or due to pressure brought thereon from the clamp.

This condition also prevails when the handle is at rest after completing an unclamping movement, irrespective of whether it is at rest on one side of the center or at the saves considerable time, eliminates the possib-lllty of the; clamp dropping down unexoectedl r and s oilin work or in'nrine an "operator, prevents unlocking of the locking mechanism when pressure is accidentally or inadvertentlybrought upon t 1e clamp, and impells the operation of the handle for a m vement of the clamp.

Upon rotation of the handle in the direction of the arrow thereon, for a clamping movement of "the clamp, the prongs are moved in the same direction.

The springs normally hold the prongs 24, 26 and 28 spaced from the driving parts 18, 19 and 20, respectively.

Upon beginning of this clamping movement, the prongs 24, 26 and 28 begin to compress the springs, the prong 25 moves forward rotatively but does not contact the member I, the prong 27 also moves forward and moves the member J out of the locking position-thereof, and the prong 29 moves toward the member H but does not move it into a locking or wedging position so taat the driven member E is now completely unlocked for a clamping movement of the clamp through the geared relation of the clamp and the driven member.

Upon continuation of clamping movement of the handle, the member E begins to rotat o forwardly and thereby moves the clamp toward a clamping position.

Upon arrival of the clamp at a clamping position, as contact of the clamp on an article, a resistance against rotation of the shaft and the driven member is set up.

Since it is desirable that the clamp should clamp the article tightly and since the article now arrests further clamping movement of the clamp, a pressure must be produced on the clamp through the operating handle.

Upon continuation of clamping movement or" the handle, against the resistance to clamping movement now offered by the clamp and transmitted to the driven member and the driving parts thereon, the prongs 2d, 26 and 28 begin to compress the springs against the now practically stationary driving parts and thereby increases the pressure thereon which pressure is transmitted to the clamp for in crease of pressure between the clamp and the article.

V7 l ile the prongs are so continuing to move for spring compression, the prong 25 moves the member I and the prong 27 moves the member 5 and the prong 29 moves the member Hinto tight wedging positions between unclampir clamp on the article but is terminated automatically when that movement has proceeded far enough to contact the prongs 2 1-, 26 and 28 onto the driving parts 18, 19 and QOas" shown in Fig. 5 since the entire incclianism' in the casing is now-the equivalent of a solid mass locked against rotation in the positionally stationary casing and neither the operating mechanism nor the clamp can move'of itself nor can the operating mechanism be moved upon pressure from the clamp but can be moved only by operation of the handle which first releases the locking.

In the manner ust described, one clamping operation of the handle automatically releases the loching, moves the clamp into clamping position, automatically regulates the clamping and locking pressure for easy release of the locking, automatically locks the clamp in clamping position, and automatically limits the locking pressure.

Upon a reverse movement of the handle,

an unclamping movement, in a direction opposite the arrow thereon, the prongs 24, 26 and 28 first move all of the locking members out of their locking positions, the operating mechanism and the clamp then move for an l movement, and at least two of the locking members automatically drop into locking positions as shown in F 4 upon completion of this reverse movement. of the handle and thereby loclrs the operating mechanism and the clamp against movement in either direction by pressure brought upon the clamp or transmitted to the operating mechanism from the clamp as long as the handle is not operated.

In the manner just described, one unclamping movement of the handle automatically releases the locking, moves the clamp into an unclamping position, and automatically locks the clamp in the unclamping position.

As mentioned above, I amaware that my invention is applicable to devices other than the one device shown in the accompanying drawing and specifically described herein but I am also aware that changes and modifications can be made in the structure and arrangements oi the parts so shown and de scribed within the spirit and intent of my invention and of the appended claims; therefore, without limiting myself to the precise application of my invention as shown and described nor to the specific structure and arrangement of the scribed.

I claim 1. An operating and locking means for parts as shown and demovable clamps including an operating mechanism for inovinga clamp into various positions including a driven member and a driving member free moving to operate said driven member, wedge members adapted to automatically move into positions to lock said operating mechanism and the clamp against movement thereof when the same are not acted by said driving member, drivin parts on said driving and driven members andadapted for driving contact thereof, and a spring between adjacent ones of said parts.

2. An operating and locking means for movable clamps including a direct driven operating mechanism for moving a clamp into clamping and unclamping positions, free moving wedge members adapted to automatically move into positions to lock said operating mechanism and the clamp. against movement thereof when the" same are not acted upon, and members on said operating mechanism adapted to automatically move said wedge members out of locking positions thereof at the beginning of a clamping move ment of the clamp and to automatically wedge the same for locking at the end of the clamping movement.

3. An operating and locking means for movable clamps including a direct driven op-' erating mechanism for moving a clamp including driven and a driving member having parts contactable on each other,wedge members adapted to move into locking contact with members of said operating mechanism, a. spring between some of said contactable parts normally keeping the same apart and compressed by movement of said driving member upon resistance to movement brought upon said operating mechanism through said clamp to wedge said wedge members firmly into locking position until stopped in said compression and said wedging upon contact of said parts and consequent arrest of further movement of said driving member in the same a locking mechanism for locking of said open:

ating mechanism against reverse movement thereof upon resistance from the clamp to said operating mechanism, then arrest the clamping movement upon a definite wedging pressure between said locking and operating mechanisms, then, upon a reverseoperation of said driving mechanism, release the locking, and then move the clamp into an unclamping position whereupon said clamping mechanism automatically locks said operating mechanism and the clamp against movement through the clamp.

5. An operating and locking means for movable clamps including a direct driven operating mechanism to move a clamp in either direction, and a locking mechanism for said operating mechanism having a freely mov able locking shoe adapted to be releasably wec 'ed against said operating mechanism to lock the clamp against self reversing movement from any position thereof and to be released for operation of said operating mechanism and the clamp.

6. An operating and locking means for movable clamps including a casing having a bore, an operating mechanism for moving a clamp having a driven member located in said bore and having a recess therein, a driving member having prongs extending into said recess for driving contact on said driven member, a rock pin journaled in said driven member and extending above the bottom of said recess, and a locking shoe loosely in said recess between said rock pin and the wall of said bore and said prongs and movable transversely of said rock pin for locking and unlocking.

7. An operating and locking means for movable clamps including a casing having a bore, interlocking directly contactable driven and driving members in said bore, locking members loosely between said driven and driving members and the wall of said bore and movable into and out of wedging positions between said wall and said driven mem ber upon contact of said driving member thereon when the same is moving.

8. A, jig device including a clamp movable into clamping and unclamping positions, a direct driven operating mechanism to move said clamp, freely moving wedge members adapted to automatically move into positions tolocksaidmechanismandsaid clamp against movement thereof,and members on said mechanism adapted to automatically move said wedge members out of locking positions thereof at the beginning of a clamping move 11 ent of the clamp and to automatically wedge the same for locking at the end of the clamping movement.

9. A device including a clamp movable K into clamping and unclamping positions, a

direct driven operating mechanism to move said clamp in either direction, and freely moving wedge members each adapted to automatically move into positions to lock said mechanism and said clamp against self reversing movement thereof at the end of a.

moving operation for said clamp and to be automatically released upon beginning of a moving operation for said clamp.

10.'A jig device including a clamp movable into clamping and unclamping positions, an operating mechanism to move said clamp, including a driven and a driving member relatively movable and having parts contactable on each other for driving, freely moving wedge members adapted to automatically move into locking contact of said driven member and released from the locking contact upon beginning of a moving operation of said clamp, and a spring between some of the contactable parts to be compressed by movement of said driving member for effective wedging of said Wedge members into locking positions.

11. A jig'device including a clamp movable into clamping and unclamping positions, an operating mechanism to move said clamp and including a driven and a driving member relatively movable and having parts contactable on each other for driving, freely moving wedge members adapted to automatically move into locking contact of said driven member and released from the locking con tact upon beginning of a moving operation of said clamp, and a spring between some of the contactable parts to be compressed by movement of said driving member for effective wed 'ing of said wedge members into, locking positions; said effective wedging being completed upon contact of said parts to preventexcessive wedgin g of said wedge members and contact of said parts terminates movement of said operating mechanism. 1

12. A j ig device including a clamp movable into positions to clamp and unclamp articles, an operating mechanism for moving said clamp including a driven and a driving member having parts contactable on each other for driving, freely moving Wedge members adapted to move into locking contact with members of said operating mechanism, a spring between some of said parts normally keeping the same apart and compressed by movement of said driving member upon contact of said clamp onto an article to Wedge said wedge members firmly into locking positions until stopped in said compression and said wedging upon contact of said parts and consequent arrest of further movement of said driving member in the same direction.

13. A jig device including a clamp movable into positions to clamp and unclamp articles, a direct driven operating mechanism for moving said clamp to clamp and unclamp an article, a locking mechanism having freely moving members adapted for automatically locking said operating mechanism against operation thereof, a driving mechanism adapted, upon operation thereof, to release said members for operation of said operating mechanism, then operate said operating mechanism for a movement to clamp the article, then operate said members for looking of said operating mechanism against unclamping movement, then arrest the clamping movement upon a definite wedging pressure between said members and said operating mechanism, then, upon a reverse operation of said driving mechanism, release the locking and then move the clamp to unclamp the article whereupon said clamping mechanism automatically locks said operating mechanism and the clam 3 against movement.

14. A jig device incluc ing a movable clamp in geared operating relation to a direct driven operating mechanism, a locking mechanism having freely moving members normally locking said operating mechanism against self operation thereof, and a driving mechanism adapt-ed, upon operation thereof, to release the locking of said members, operate said operating mechanism for clamping of an article and locking the same against self unclamping of the article, and, upon a reverse operation thereof, first release the locking of said members and move said clamp into an unclamping position whereupon said locking members automatically assume their normal locking position.

15. A jig device including a clamp movable into clamping and unclamping positions, a

direct driven operating mechanism to move said clamp into and out of said positions, and freely moving locking members each adapted to successively and automatically drop b gravity into a locking position of said operating mechanism at the end of a movement of said operating mechanism.

16. A. device including a clamp movable into clamping and unclamping positions, a direct driven operating mechanism to move said clamp into and out of said positions, and freely moving locking members each adapted to successively and automatically drop by gravity into a locking position of said operating mechanism at the end of a movement of said operating mechanism and to be moved out of said locking position by and upon commencement of a movement of said operating mechanism.

17. A device including a clamp movable into clamping and unclamping positions, a direct driven operating mechanism to move said clamp into and out of said positions, freely moving locking ed to automatically move into a locking position of said operating mechanism upon completion of a movement of said operating mechanism, and relatively movable parts in said operating mechanism to limit locking movement of said locking member.

18. An operating and locking means for movable clamps including a casing having a bore, a driven member in'said bore and having driving parts, a driving member having prongs extending into said bore, and locking members adapted for locking contact on and release from said bore to, respectively, prevent and permit rotation of said driven member in said casing; each of said prongs being adapted for direct simultaneous contact members each adapton one of saiddriving parts and on one of said locking members when said driving member is moving said driven member in either direction.

19. An operating and locking means for movable clamps including a casing having a bore, a driven member in said bore and having driving parts, a driving member having prongs extending into said'bore, a spring between alternately adjacent prongs and driving parts, and looking members adapted for locking contact on and release from said bore; each of said prongs being adapted for direct contact on one of said driving parts and on one of said locking members.

20. movable clamps including a casing having a bore, a driven member in said bore and having driving parts, a driving member having prongs extending into said bore, pins journaled in said driven member,'andlocking members against said pins and adapted for Y locking contact on and release from said bore; each of said prongs being adapted for direct contact on one of said driving parts and on one of said locking members.

21. An operating and locking means for movable clamps including a casing having a bore, a driven member in said boreand having driving parts, a driving member having prongs extending into said'bore, a spring between alternate adjacent prongs and driving parts, pins journaled in said driven member, and locking members against said pins and adapted for locking contact on and release from said bore; each of said prongs being adapted for direct contact on one of said driving parts andon one of said locking members.

22. An operating and locking means for movable clamps including a casing having a bore, a driven member in said bore and having driving parts,a driving member having prongs extending into said bore, and locking members between alternately adjacent ones of said prongs and adapted for locking contact on and release from said bore and normally free to drop by gravity into driven member locking positions; each of said prongs being adapted for direct simulta-- neous contact on one of said driving parts and. on one of saidlocking members when said driving member is moving said driven member in either direction.

23. An operating and locking means fora movable clamp including an operating mech anism to move said clamp, locking members normally freely movable in relation tosaid operatingmechanism,a driving means adapted for direct driving contact on said operating mechanism and for locking contact on all of said locking members simultaneously to lock said clamp against self reversing movement thereof at the end of a movement of said driving means.

An operating and locking means for 24;. An operating and locking means for a movable clamp including an operating mechanism to move said clamp, a normally freely moving, rockably seated locking member adjacent to a member of said operating mechanism, and a driving means for said operating mechanism and moving said locking member into looking position at the end of the driving movement of said driving means.

25 An operating and locking means for a movable clamp including an operating mechanism to move said clamp, normally freely moving locking members adjacent to a member of said operating mechanism, and a driving means for said operating mechanism and moving all of said locking members into locking positions at the end of the driving movement of said driving means.

26. An operating and locking means for a movable clamp including an operating mechanism to move said clamp, normally freely moving locking members adjacent to a member of said operating mechanism and rockably seated to adapt themselves to locking positions, and a driving means for said operating mechanism and moving all of said locking members into locking positions at the end of the driving movement of said driving means.

27. An operatingand locking means for a movable clamp including an operating mechanism to move said clamp into clamping and unolamping positions, normally freely moving locking members adjacent to a member of said operating mechanism androckably seated to adapt themselves to locking positions, and a driving means adapted for direct contact on said operating mechanism and for moving said locking members into looking positions at the end of the driving movement of said driving means.

In testimony of the foregoing, I affix my signature.

GUY E. SWARTZ. 

